Leveling machine



May 20, 1930. E. E. WINKLEY LEVELING MACHINE Filed Aug. 11. 1928 2 Sheets-Shem 1 Fig.1.

WMQM

y 20, 1930- E. E. WINKLEY 1,758,992

LEVELING MACHINE Filed Aug. '11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '5 d3 &4 70 46' f4 Patented May 20, r 1930 NITLED SATES PATENT OFFICE ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, OF- LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY Y I LEVELING'MACI-IINE Application filed :August 11, 1928. Serial No. 299,055.

- This invention relates to machines for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes, and more particularly to machines of that type in which leveling pressure is applied to different portions of the bottom of a shoesuccessively.

In machines of the above-mentioned type the leveling pressure is usually in the nature of rolling pressure, applied either by means of a roll the periphery of which is circular in planes perpendicular to its axis or by means of a member having a matrix surface formed in accordance with the desired longitudinal and transverse contours ofthe sole of the shoe and having in addition a general curvature such as to adapt it to actupon different portions of the sole successively. In either case it is desirable that the leveling tool be so a formed that its generalcurvature lengthwise of the shoe shall be as little pronounced, i. e., as wide, as it is practicable to make it, so as to minimize any tendency for the tool to follow undesired local irregularities in the bottom M of the shoe.in theprogressive action of the tool on the shoe.

With the above and other considerations in view,'the presentinvention provides a novel organization whereby use of a leveling tool of wide curvature is greatly facilitated, with various advantages including those of lightness of weight and simplicity of construction of the operating parts. As herein illustrated, the leveling tool comprises what is, in effect,

a segment, only of a roll of comparatively large diameter, thus avoiding such objections as there may be to the use ofa large, heavy roll, while affording the advantages of such a roll in respect to wide curvature. The tool thus constructed may have a shoe-engaging matrix surface formed in accordance with the desired longitudinal and transverse contours of the shoe bottom, or may have a shoe-engag ing face of regular curvature, such as that characteristic of a roll of circular periphery.

As herein illustrated the segmental tool is mounted by means of rolls and guide slots for movement about an axis located exteriorly thereof, and is thus movable in response to engagement of the shoe therewith.

To control the leveling tool so that it will I operate, in proper relation to each shoe, there is further provided a novel organization'such that the tool is presented initially in a definitely determined position with respect to movement about its axis, the construction shown comprising spring means which acts to position thetool initially at one limit of its movement and yields as the tool is moved about its axis by the shoe in the manner above described, 'With further insurance, which a machine organization of the type illustrated affords, that the tool and the shoe will be located' in a definitely determined, relation to each other lengthwise of the shoe when the tool first engages the shoe, there isthus pro f vided a construction such as to secure proper registration of the shoe with differentportions of'the shoe-engaging face of the tool without the use of gearing connecting the tool andthe shoe support such as commonly provided heretofore, for example, in machines having leveling tools of the matrix type.

While the invention is not limited with respect to the amount of surface treated by the leveling tool, there is herein shown a construction in which the tool is formed and arranged to operate only upon the forepart of a shoe. Such a construction is adapted for use,-

for example, upon shoes of a'typesuch that it is advantageous to level the shank in a separate operation by direct pressure as distinguished from progressive or rolling pressure. a

The invention is herein illustrated in its application to a leveling machine organization of a well-known type characteristic features of which are shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,667,761, granted on May 1, 1928, upon, an application of E. E. Winkley and H. A. Davenport and in earlier Letters Patent referred to therein. While there are substantial advantages in such a combination, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that type of machine.

The invention will now be moreparticularly described by reference to the accom panying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion'of a machine of the above-mentioned type with the present invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section, illustrating the action of the leveling tool on a shoe and showing a tool of the matrix type;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the leveling tool shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of an alternative form of leveling tool the shoe-engaging portion of which is a segment of a roll of circular periphery.

A machine of the type illustrated includes in its organization a shoe support or jack having a toe post 10 and a heel post 12 that is adjustable toward and from the toe post for shoes of different sizes by means of a hand-wheel 14. The shoe and its last are mounted on a last pin 16 (Fig. 2) on the heel post with the toe end of the shoe in engagement with a soft rubber toe rest 18 on the toe post. The last pin 16 is'mounted on a tipping block 20 which is operated through a bar 22 and other connections by a hand lever 24 to tip the shoe and force its toe end firmly down upon the toe rest 18, as fully described in Letters Patent No. 1,719,158, granted on July 2, 1929, upon an application of E. E. Winkley and H. A. Davenport. It will be understood that the jack as a whole is oscillated about the axis of a rock shaft 26 to carry the shoe forwardly and rearwardly under a leveling tool (hereinafter described) by power means which Operates in a definite cycle, such means being a characteristic feature of the type of machine shown and described in the various Letters Patent above mentioned.

For supporting the leveling tool there is provided a tool carrier or arm 26 mounted to swing in a vertical plane about an axis not herein shown to carry the tool into andout of engagement with a shoe on the jack. A spring plunger 28 engages the arm 26 underneath and acts, when permitted, to raise the tool, as described in Letters Patent No. 1,667 ,7 61. (lo-operating with this plunger in controlling the tool is cam-controlled mechanism also of well-known construction including a link 30 connected to the arm 26, a lever 32 connected to the link, a spring 34 acting on the lever, and a lever 86 acting through a plunger 38 on the spring. It will be understood that by this mechanism the leveling tool is forced down into engagement with the shoe in automatically determined time relation to the movement of the jack and is held yieldingly in engagement with the shoe until the cam-controlled mechanism permits the plunger 28 to raise the tool from the shoe near the end of the cycle.

Supported on the arm 26 is a yokeshaped member 40 between the opposite side portions of which is mounted a holder 42 for the level ing tool. This holder has rolls 44 on its opposite sides, these rolls being supported in guideways formed in the member 40 for the purpose of adjustment of the holder and the tool about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe, as heretofore in machines of the type illustrated. The holder is'held in adjusted relation to the member 40 by means of a clamp member 46. The member 40 has a tubular shank 48 mounted to turn in the arm 26 to permit-the leveling tool to be tipped or inclined laterally of the shoe, and it will be understood that the position of the tool in this respect is determined by automatic mechanism (not shown) characteristic of ma chines of the illustrated type.

For purposes of this invention the machine herein shown is provided with a leveling tool 50 so formed. as to constitute, in effect, a segment of a roll of comparatively large diameter for applying pressure to different por tions of the bottom of the shoe successively. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the tool is provided with a matrix surface formed in accordance with the desired longitudinal and lateral contours of the portion of the sole engaged thereby, while having also a general curvature lengthwise of the shoe to adapt it to act substantially with a rolling pressure on different portions of the sole successively. The tool illustrated has a shoe-engaging face of such extent as to adapt it to operate only upon the forepart of a shoe which is shaped or leveled in its shank portion by a different operation, as is sometimes desirable in operating upon certain kinds of shoes, but it will be understood that the tool may, if desired, have an operating face of greater extent for engaging the shoe farther rearwardly.

The tool above described is mounted for operative movement about an imaginary axis located exteriorly thereof at the center of the general lengthwise curvature of the tool. For this purpose the tool has at each side a strap portion 52 forming a closed slot or guideway 54 curved in an arc concentric with the general lengthwise curvature of the shoe-engaging portion of the tool. and by means of these slots, located between the shoe-engaging portion of the tool and the center of its curvature, the tool is mounted upon the tool holder 42 on front and rear pairs of rolls 56 and 58. The two front rolls 56 are mounted to turn on a rod 60 extending across the tool holder 42 and are spaced apart by a sleeve 62 on the rod. the two rolls 58 are mounted on a rod 64 and are spaced by a sleeve 66. It will be understood that the width of the slots 54 is slightly greater than the diameter of the rolls to permit the rolls to turn freely. rolls 56 and 58 thus support the tool on its holder 42 in such manner as to permit it to have a limited oscillating movement about the center of its general lengthwise curvature as an axis to apply its pressure to dif- Similarly,

The

meaeea ferent portions of the sole successively. In

the construction shown such movement of the tool is effected in response to engagement 'of the shoe therewith as the shoe is moved lengthwise by the jack, similarly to movement of a roll by the shoe in leveling machines of the roll type as commonly con-- structed heretofore. The segmental tool, however, is of lighter construction than a complete roll, which renders it practicable to use. a tool which is curved on a comparatively long radius without disadvantages such as might be involved in the control of a large, heavy roll.

It will be understood that in using a leveling tool having a matrix surface, such as hereinbefore described, it is necessary that the different portions of the surface of the tool shall'engage the corresponding portions of the bottom of the shoe so as to impart to the sole the desired contour determined by the matrix surface. In machines of'the type illustrated, as hereinbefore explained, there is an automatically determined time relation between the movement of the jack and the downward movement of the tool-supportingarm 26 to carry the tool into engagement with the shoe, so that when the tool first engages the shoe the tool and the shoe are in a definitely determined relation to each other lengthwise of the shoe. In order to insure that when the tool is thus moved initially into engagement with the shoe the proper portion of its matrix surface will contact with the shoe, thereis further provided means for positioning the tool initially at a definite point with respect to movement about its axis. For this purpose there is mounted for. oscillatory movement on a rod 68 on the tool holder 42 an arm 70 the lower end'of which is in engagement with a rod 72 carried by the leveling tool, and for controllingthi's arm there is provided a spring 7 4 one end of which is in engagement with a lug 76 on the arm and the other end v of which is connected to a collar 78 fast on the 2 with the shoe. The spring 74 is a comparatively light spring, and it will be understood that it isagainst the, resistance of this spring that the leveling tool is moved in one direction about its axis in response to the engagement of the shoe therewith. At all, times when the tool is out of engagement with the shoe the spring-controlled arm 70 serves to maintain it in its predetermined initial position with respect to movement about its axis.

* It will thus be seen that proper correlation minimized.

between the matrix surface of the tool and the corresponding portions of the bottom of the shoe is secured without the necessity for the provision of gearing or other complicated mechanism such as commonly provided here tofore for insuring proper correlation between the shoe and the tool in machines having tools of the matrix type.

Instead of a matrix leveling tool such as hereinabove described, there may be utilized,

if desired, a tool 50 of the form shown in Fig. 4, which difiers from the tool 50*shown in the other figures only in having a shoe-engaging face of regular curvature characteristic of a segment of a roll of circular periph- 1,

inches which is, of course, much greater than the length of the shoe on which the tool operates. It will be evident that the comparatively wide curvature of the shoe-engagmg face of such a tool in the direction of the length of the shoe is of substantial advantage in that any tendency for the tool to follow local irregularities in the bottom of the shoe is It will be understood that whenthe tool 50 is utilized, the spring-controlled arm 70 serves tocontrol it in thesame mannor as the tool 50 when the latter is used, so

that its segmental leveling face will beso positioned as to operate upon that portion of the bottom of the shoe which it is desired to treat trolling the member .40 in such manner as to determine the position ofthe leveling tool with respect to tipping movement laterally of the shoe. .When the matrix tool .50 is utilized the member 40 will preferably be so held as to prevent any such tipping movement of the tool, the automaticcontrolling mechanism being suitably adjusted for that purpose by the use of adjusting means with which machines of the type'referred to are commonly provided. In the use of a tool of M the form shown in Fig. 4 it may be desirable to tip'the tool to some extent in operating along the opposite sideportions'of the shoe bottom, as common heretofore in the use of leveling rolls, and the controlling mechanism will, accordingly, be adjusted to produce that result in time relation to the oscillatory movements of the jack.

In the use of the machine, briefly summarized, the operator mounts a shoe on the last pin 16 when the jack is swung forwardly in a position convenient for the reception of the shoe, and tips the last pin to jack the shoe on the toe rest 18 by use of the hand lever 24. Thereafter, he starts the machine by tripping the clutch. By the power-driven operating means the jack is then moved to carry the shoe under the leveling tool, and at a predetermined point in this movement of the jack the tool is moved down into engagement with the shoe. At the time when the tool is thus carried into engagement with the shoe it is positioned by the spring-controlled arm 72 at one limit of its oscillatory movement determined by engagement of the rolls 58 with the straps 52, so that the portion of the tool designed to engage the extreme end of the toe is made to register with that portion of the sole. In the continued movement of the jack in the same direction the tool is moved about its axis in response to the engagement of the shoe therewith, so that it applies its pressure successively to different portions of the sole from the toe end rearwardly to the ball of the shoe, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the jack arrives at the limit of its first swinging movement, it is swung in the opposite direction to cause the tool to operate progressively from the ball to the toe. It will be understood that in whichever direction the jack is moved, the movement of the tool about its axis results from and is controlled by the engagement of the shoe therewith, so that there is at all times the proper correlation be tween the tool and the shoe, the movement of the tool in one direction being against the resistance of the positioning spring 74% and the reverse movement being assisted by the spring. The movements of the jack may be repeated any desired number of times, as predetermined by its operating cam. In the course of the leveling operation the position of the tool with respect to tipping movement laterally of the shoe is determined in the manner hereinbefore explained. Near the end of the cycle the tool is lifted from the shoe and the ack is returned to its initial position, the tool being thereafter maintained in the position determined by the spring-controlled arm and the rolls 58 preparatory to the operation of the machine upon the next shoe.

While the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in an organization in which the straps 52 of the leveling tool are integral with the shoe-engaging portion of the tool, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such a construction nor to the illustrated construction and arrangement of the roll and slot guiding means.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon difierent portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said tool being mounted for movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and automatic means for determining independently of the shoe the starting position of the tool in its operation on the shoe.

2. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon difierent portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said tool being mounted for movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and means for presenting the tool initially in a definite position with respect to movement about said axis ready to begin its operation on a shoe.

3. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon difierent portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said tool being mounted for movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means arranged to maintain the tool initially in a definite position with respect to movement about said axis and against the resistance of which the tool is movable from that position in operating on the shoe.

4:. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll of greater diameter than the length of a shoe on said support for operating successively upon difi'ercnt portions of the bottom of the shoe and having a shoe-engaging face of such extent as to adapt it to operate only upon the forepart of the shoe, said tool being mounted for limited movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and automatic means for positioning the tool before its operation on each shoe at one limit of its movement about said axis.

5. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll of greater diameter than the length of a shoe on said support for operating successively upon different portions of the bottom of the shoe and having a shoeengaging face of such extent as to adapt it to operate only upon the forepart of the shoe, said tool being mounted for limited movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and snring means for positioning the tool initially at one limit of its movement about said axis and against the resistance of which the tool is movable from that position in operating on the shoe.

6. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon different portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said tool being mounted for movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, means for moving the tool into engagement with the shoe when the tool and the shoe are in a predetermined relation to each other lengthwise of the shoe, and means for determining the position of the tool with respect to movement about its axis at the time of its initial engagement with the shoe.

7. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling tool, a shoe support movable relatively to said tool in directions lengthwise of a shoe thereon, means for moving the tool into engagement with the shoe at a predetermined time in the movement of the shoe support, the tool being formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon different portions of the bottom of the shoe and mounted for movement about an axis to operate thus on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means for presenting the tool in a definite position with respect to movement about its axis at the time of its initial engagement with the shoe.

8. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon different portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support and having a matrix surface formed in accordance with the desired lengthwise and lateral contours tion, a leveling tool, a shoe support movable relatively to said tool in directions lengthwise of a shoe thereon, means for moving the tool into engagement with the shoe at a predetermined time in the movement of the shoe support, said tool being formed as a segment of a roll and having a matrix surface formed in accordance with the desired longitudinal and lateral contours of the sole of the shoe, the tool being mounted for movement about an axis to operate progressively on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means for determining 'the position of the tool with respect to movement about its axis at the time of its initial engagement with the shoe and against the resistance of which the tool is movable from that position in operating on the shoe.

10. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling tool, a shoe support movable relatively to said tool in directions lengthwise of a shoe thereon, means for moving the tool into engagement with the shoe at a predetermined time in the movement of the shoe support, the tool being so formed as to apply leveling pressure successively to different portions of the bottom of the shoe by movement about an axis and movable about said axis in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means for determining the initial position of the tool with respect to movement about said axis and against the resistance of which thetool is thus movable.

11. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool so formed as to apply rolling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, said tool being so mounted as to roll on the shoe in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means against the resistance of which the tool is thus movable about its axis from a predetermined initial position.

12. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool having a general curvature such as to adapt it to apply rolling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support and provided with a matrix surface formed in accordance with portions of the bottom of a shoe on said sup-* port, the tool being so mounted as to receive such movement in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means for positioning the tool initially at one limit of its movementabout said axis and for maintaining it in that position when it is out of engagement with the shoe.

14. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool having a matrix surface-corresponding to the desired contourof the forepart only of a shoe and curved toadapt it to apply its pressure to different portions of the bottom of the shoe successively by movement about an axis, the tool being so mounted as to receive such movement in response to engagement of the I shoe therewith, and spring means against the resistance of which the tool is thus movable from a predetermined'initial position.

15. A leveling machine having, in combination, a'shoe support, a segmental leveling tool having a shoeeengaging face of such extent as to adapt-it to operate only upon the iii;

forepart of a shoe on said support, the tool being movable about an axis to apply its pressure to diflerent portions of the bottom of the shoe successively and so mounted as to receive such movement in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and means for determining independently of the shoe the starting position of the tool in its operation on the shoe.

16. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool so formed as to apply leveling pressure successively to different portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, and roll and slot guiding means for supporting the tool and directing its movement about said axis.

17. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool so formed as to apply leveling )ressure successively to different port-ions oi the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, and roll and slot guiding means for supporting the tool and directing its move- :nent about said axis, the tool being movable about said axis in response to engagement of the shoe therewith.

18. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool so formed as to apply leveling pressure successively to different portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, said tool having portions thereof provided with curved slots, and means in said slots for engaging the tool to guide it for.

movement about said axis.

19. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a segmental leveling tool so formed as to apply leveling pressure successively .to diiierent portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, said tool having portions thereof at its opposite sides provided with curved slots, and rolls in said slots for supporting the tool for movement about said axis.

20. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll'adapted to operate successively upon different portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, and means arranged to support said tool in a difierent location from the center of its curvature for movementabout that center as an axis in operating on the shoe.

21. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool formed as a segment of a roll adapted to operate successively upon different port-ions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, and roll and slot guiding means located between the shoeengaging portion of the tool and the center of its curvature to guide it for movement about that center as an axis in operating on the shoe.

22. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool having a general curvature such as to adapt it to operate successively upon difierent portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said tool having port-ions thereof provided with slots curved similarly to the tool for guiding the tool about the center of its curvature as an axis in operating on the shoe, and means for engaging the tool in said slots to support and guide it.

A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool so formed as to apply leveling pressure successively to different portions of the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, and means for supporting the tool in a different location from said axis while guiding it for movement about said axis in operating on the shoe.

24.. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe support, a leveling tool so formed as to apply leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support by movement about an axis, roll and slot guiding means for supporting the tool for movement about said axis in response to engagement of the shoe therewith, and spring means for normally maintaining the tool in a definite position with respect to movement about'said axis and against the resistance of which the tool is movable from that position in operating on the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ERASTUS E. WINKLEY. 

